In 1987, the Irish rider won the “Triple Crown” in Cycling, the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the World Championship Road Race in the same year.

Roche battled his teammate Roberto Visentini, the 1986 Giro d'Italia winner, and half of the Italian fans to win the 1987 Giro d'Italia over Robert Millar of Great Britain and Erik Breukink of Holland.

A month later, Roche won the Tour de France over Pedro Delgado of Spain and Jean-Francois Bernard of France.

Later that year, Roche won the World Championship Road Race over Moreno Argentin of Italy and Juan Fernandez of Spain.

Roche joins Eddy Merckx as the only two riders who have won cycling’s “Triple Crown” in one year. Merckx accomplished this feat in 1974.

Roche was also 3rd in the 1985 Tour de France behind Bernard Hinault of France and Greg Lemond of the USA.

In addition, Roche was 3rd in the 1983 World Championship Road Race behind Greg Lemond of the USA and Adri Van Der Poel of Holland.